Clippers close out the season with win over Ooks

CAMROSE, Alta. - Completing the season with a win, the Briercrest Clippers down the NAIT Ooks in four sets, 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21) in the consolation final at the ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship, Saturday afternoon at Augustana Gym.

With the season coming to a close, the Clippers finish fifth overall in the conference after leading the south division for a majority of the season, while the NAIT Ooks who came into the elite eight as the north's third seed finish the season in sixth.

"I'm proud of the girls," said the ACAC South Coach of the Year, Natalie Mullan. "They showed a lot of maturity to come back and get a couple of wins after a tough start to the tournament."

All-conference outside hitter, Julia Beer led the winning side with 14 kills, six digs and two aces, while defensive specialist Brynn Hardy kept the ball off the floor with nine digs.

Battling to the end, the ACAC North Rookie of the Year was once again stellar for the Ooks, leading the game in kills with 20 and adding seven digs. Teammate Casey Gilmour set the team up with 30 assists.

The game followed a similar storyline, from point to point, set to set, however, it would be the Clippers gaining the upper hand in the third set, giving themselves a chance to end the season on a win.

Hoping to stay alive and push a fifth set, the Ooks found themselves down late in the fourth, but closing the gap. Ultimately, it would be fifth-year Beer with the poetic ending, doing what she has done many times before and hitting a cross-court kill to end the match.

"The girls are so wonderful," added Mullan when summing up the team's season, her first at the helm. "They've had consistent character, had each other's backs, have been intense and intentional and are so fun to work with."

Both teams see their season come to a close but will return for another full season of ACAC Women's Volleyball action in the fall.